Mayweather/Mosley is a fight that has topped my dream list for years! Nothing could cloud the anticipation for such a match up...and then it happened: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was all but a done deal before being tragically scratched. I hated everyone in both camps for botching negotiations for the biggest fight in decades, therefore scarring my Mosley/Mayweather hype by making it our fall back, our contingency.
That being said, I'm starting to come to terms with everything, thus getting pretty excited because of the same reasons I was hyped about it for so many years: Mosley is going to make Mayweather fight. Zab Judah and Ricky Hatton could not make the Pretty Boy fight the way Mosley will because Mosley is not afraid of anybody, he never has been. A man not afraid of anybody or anything including losing, is a very dangerous man. He stood toe to toe with a prime De La Hoya for 24 rounds and took the fights to him. He gave rematches to both boxers who beat him convincingly the first time around: Winky Wright and Vernon Forest. He took on Miguel Cotto when he was still undefeated, at the peak of his prime. And though he ended up losing a close decision in a solid styles match up, he then went on to brutalize the man who beat the man who beat him in Antonio Margarito. He's also knocked out Fernando Vargas twice, Ricardo Mayorga, and schooled a young, tricky southpaw in Luis Collazo. Shane Mosley is not intimidated by Floyd Mayweather because even though Floyd might be his most skilled opponent, Mosley has seen too much in his career to be afraid. The only other guy in all of boxing who could realistically make that claim is Manny Pacquiao.
On the other hand, Mayweather is afraid to lose. He's proven it year after year: he could have faced Antonio Margarito but instead chose Carlos Baldomir. He could have had Miguel Cotto, but instead chose a washed up Oscar De La Hoya. He could have faced Shane Mosley at any point in the last five years, but instead chose Arturo Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell, and Henry Bruseles. The only reason he's "choosing" to face him now is because he would not have gotten away with blowing a fight with Pacquiao only to fight Paulie Malignaggi.
Mayweather will have his hands full, as he will be up against his most talented, most experienced opponent ever. What happens in the middle of the fight when Mayweather realizes he can't have his way like he's used to? What happens when Mosley's ghosts of past opponents are haunting Floyd right there before our eyes? He will be faced with a choice: run around the ring and hope for a 12 round decision? No. Mosley won't be on his heels, waiting to be picked apart; he's too quick and rangy for that. Mayweather's other option: stand and fight like an animal cornered by a rabid predator.
And considering the winner will (he better!) make the fight with Pacquiao should he get by Clottey, I think it's safe to say my anticipation for this fight couldn't get much higher.
February 2, 2010
April 28, 2009
Jermain Taylor
It hurt watching Jermain Taylor get knocked out horridly this past Saturday, considering he’s been my favorite fighter since I saw him defeat Alex Bunema in March of ’04. I had just become a boxing fan, watching fights sporadically, though I was beginning to watch with increasing regularity. I was being introduced to the fighters quickly, along with their weight classes, their styles, their histories, etc. It wasn’t too long thereafter that I became a full-fledged die-hard fan of the sport. I fell in love with the drama; I had never before witnessed such a magnificent stage.
That night, over five years ago, I watched this fighter named Jermain Taylor put on a show. He was so calm, so graceful, so powerful. I was not yet able to identify technical flaws, or erroneous ring habits. And while currently I am nothing but an armchair Eddie Futch, I still am capable of recognizing the brilliance of a ring technician such as Bernard Hopkins versus the raw instinctual style of Jermain Taylor. But what can I say, that night he became my favorite fighter, and has remained so to this day.
Whenever he fights now, it is a huge event for me: months of anticipation culminate on the day with re-visiting past Taylor fights on DVD. This Saturday evening before the live fight, I watched two past fights: Taylor/Lacy (his most recent contest to that point), followed by the aforementioned bout, Taylor/Bunema. As I watched him pump his jab into Bunema’s grill, I had a realization: “Tonight, Jermain’s in trouble.” I had a sinking feeling right there that Taylor would somehow not walk out of the ring victorious. I could see so clearly that the Jermain Taylor of old had become a memory. Because the Taylor that fought Alex Bunema was the best he had to offer. I realized that the Jermain that I was watching on my DVD was better than any Jermain that I had seen in recent years. I didn’t know it before, because maybe I didn’t want to know it. Maybe every time he put on a disappointing performance since his debatable title fight with Hopkins, I found an excuse for him: his opponent ran all night, or Jermain was too eager to score a knockout, or Winky Wright will make anybody look bad, etc. These excuses started after his first fight with Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins has always said that he steals his opponents’ primes when they share a ring with him; he claims he ruins fighters on a single night. I never believed it, because I didn’t recognize it in Jermain. But I recognize it now that Taylor hasn’t been the same since the night he and Bernard mixed it up, July 16, 2005. And you know something? He’s right. They both were robbed that night: Hopkins had his title swindled, and as for Jermain Taylor, well, his prime was never to be seen again.
That night, over five years ago, I watched this fighter named Jermain Taylor put on a show. He was so calm, so graceful, so powerful. I was not yet able to identify technical flaws, or erroneous ring habits. And while currently I am nothing but an armchair Eddie Futch, I still am capable of recognizing the brilliance of a ring technician such as Bernard Hopkins versus the raw instinctual style of Jermain Taylor. But what can I say, that night he became my favorite fighter, and has remained so to this day.
Whenever he fights now, it is a huge event for me: months of anticipation culminate on the day with re-visiting past Taylor fights on DVD. This Saturday evening before the live fight, I watched two past fights: Taylor/Lacy (his most recent contest to that point), followed by the aforementioned bout, Taylor/Bunema. As I watched him pump his jab into Bunema’s grill, I had a realization: “Tonight, Jermain’s in trouble.” I had a sinking feeling right there that Taylor would somehow not walk out of the ring victorious. I could see so clearly that the Jermain Taylor of old had become a memory. Because the Taylor that fought Alex Bunema was the best he had to offer. I realized that the Jermain that I was watching on my DVD was better than any Jermain that I had seen in recent years. I didn’t know it before, because maybe I didn’t want to know it. Maybe every time he put on a disappointing performance since his debatable title fight with Hopkins, I found an excuse for him: his opponent ran all night, or Jermain was too eager to score a knockout, or Winky Wright will make anybody look bad, etc. These excuses started after his first fight with Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins has always said that he steals his opponents’ primes when they share a ring with him; he claims he ruins fighters on a single night. I never believed it, because I didn’t recognize it in Jermain. But I recognize it now that Taylor hasn’t been the same since the night he and Bernard mixed it up, July 16, 2005. And you know something? He’s right. They both were robbed that night: Hopkins had his title swindled, and as for Jermain Taylor, well, his prime was never to be seen again.
January 22, 2009
The Internet: Our Boxing Saving Grace
There hasn't been much in the boxing world that I have felt the need to write about as of late. Coupled with the fact that I just didn't want to take down my thoughts on Bernard Hopkins, combined together with a string of extremely busy months, you get one lonely blog. When I have gotten the urge to express some thoughts here or there, I typically just shoot one to Greg Leon's mailbag over at Boxingtalk.com The site took a hiatus for a bit, but now he is back to the great stuff that makes his website in the eyes of many, the best on the net. I love them all, truthfully. There is a bit about all the sites that I appreciate.
Being that the internet is essentially the only place the average American boxing fan can get his or her boxing fix, I am grateful for the lot. Maxboxing.com has a slew of great writers. Every day there is a new article on the main page. The rest of the site contains video which is only made available to their members. I have bought a few monthly memberships here and there, typically when there is a major fight of interest, for which I want to get as much coverage as possible. During those memberships, I would download their weekly boxing talk show. Formerly run by Doug Fischer, it is now Gabriel Montoya alongside Steve Kim. I haven't had a membership since Fischer left (to Ring Mag online), and truthfully hadn't had one in about a year before his departure, but I can speak on Steve Kim, and he is extremely knowledgeable about the sport's goings-on.
Fightnews.com is more or less strictly a headline page. I go there for breaking boxing news from all around the world. Great European coverage, Fightnews has. Also, every so often you will see a Q&A with a boxing name, as well as assorted photo galleries.
Boxingscene.com is a hub for boxing news and articles from various websites. Each day, there are at least 8 to 10 new headlines.
ESPN.com's boxing coverage is great for many reasons, yet two that keep me coming back continuously: Kieran Mulvaney's podcasts, and Dan Rafael's notebooks. Mulvaney is very well spoken, quite knowledgeable, and has a great perspective on the sport and its fighters. He podcasts around two per week, typically 10-12 minutes long. Rafael's notebooks are filled weekly with fantastic little tidbits of boxing news. While some of it contains rumors or rumblings which have already surfaced, much of Rafael's notebooks are exclusives which he breaks to his readers--and these are what make for must-read material for any boxing fan.
Every Monday morning I like to read Bill Dettloff's (Thering-online.com) Ring Update, although I don't know if it's officially called that anymore, since they have revamped their site, and now have new articles daily. But I consider Dettloff the best boxing writer out there. His thoughts are insightful, witty, and subtle, always devoid of insipidity.
And I can't forget about Boxrec.com. This site is the ultimate reference guide for boxing fans. It is a complete database encompassing everything a fan would want to know about a fighter's opponents, results, dates, judges, upcoming bouts, etc. Each fighter's name, and each date they have fought is a link, making factual research and fighter history extremely easy to obtain.
So thanks to the internet for being the main outlet for boxing fans to get their fistic fix!
Being that the internet is essentially the only place the average American boxing fan can get his or her boxing fix, I am grateful for the lot. Maxboxing.com has a slew of great writers. Every day there is a new article on the main page. The rest of the site contains video which is only made available to their members. I have bought a few monthly memberships here and there, typically when there is a major fight of interest, for which I want to get as much coverage as possible. During those memberships, I would download their weekly boxing talk show. Formerly run by Doug Fischer, it is now Gabriel Montoya alongside Steve Kim. I haven't had a membership since Fischer left (to Ring Mag online), and truthfully hadn't had one in about a year before his departure, but I can speak on Steve Kim, and he is extremely knowledgeable about the sport's goings-on.
Fightnews.com is more or less strictly a headline page. I go there for breaking boxing news from all around the world. Great European coverage, Fightnews has. Also, every so often you will see a Q&A with a boxing name, as well as assorted photo galleries.
Boxingscene.com is a hub for boxing news and articles from various websites. Each day, there are at least 8 to 10 new headlines.
ESPN.com's boxing coverage is great for many reasons, yet two that keep me coming back continuously: Kieran Mulvaney's podcasts, and Dan Rafael's notebooks. Mulvaney is very well spoken, quite knowledgeable, and has a great perspective on the sport and its fighters. He podcasts around two per week, typically 10-12 minutes long. Rafael's notebooks are filled weekly with fantastic little tidbits of boxing news. While some of it contains rumors or rumblings which have already surfaced, much of Rafael's notebooks are exclusives which he breaks to his readers--and these are what make for must-read material for any boxing fan.
Every Monday morning I like to read Bill Dettloff's (Thering-online.com) Ring Update, although I don't know if it's officially called that anymore, since they have revamped their site, and now have new articles daily. But I consider Dettloff the best boxing writer out there. His thoughts are insightful, witty, and subtle, always devoid of insipidity.
And I can't forget about Boxrec.com. This site is the ultimate reference guide for boxing fans. It is a complete database encompassing everything a fan would want to know about a fighter's opponents, results, dates, judges, upcoming bouts, etc. Each fighter's name, and each date they have fought is a link, making factual research and fighter history extremely easy to obtain.
So thanks to the internet for being the main outlet for boxing fans to get their fistic fix!
October 20, 2008
My thoughts on the legend Bernard Hopkins
"He tricked us. He tricked us all." This is what George Foreman said of Bernard Hopkins in 2001 after Hopkins systematically broke down betting favorite and pound-for-pound fighter Felix Trinidad over the course of 12 rounds before knocking him out in the final minute. Trinidad was never the same.
From that point, Hopkins was given the credit he deserved and was seldom underestimated. That is, until 2005 when he fought Jermain Taylor. Taylor took two close decisions from the 40 year old. Boxing writers and fans alike gave out a collective plea for the old man to retire. He's done enough: he has knockout victories over hall of fame fighters including Trinidad and De La Hoya, along with 21 consecutive middleweight title defenses over a span of ten years, which is not only sufficient to punch his ticket to the hall of fame, but his resume is enough to put him in the discussion of all time great middleweights.
At 40 years old, it was time to ride into the sunset. The only thing is, Hopkins "didn't hear no bell." The only man on earth who believed he still had days left on the top echelon of the sport was Hopkins himself. Instead of fighting again at middleweight, Bernard not only decided to jump two divisions to light heavyweight, but he thought he would do it against the champ, Antonio Tarver. Very few gave Hopkins a chance. If he couldn't pull the trigger and finish the job against middleweight Jermain Taylor, what did he think he was going to do against Antonio Tarver? Apparently Hopkins knew something no one else did, because it was a 12 round destruction which made Tarver look like an amateur.
He tricked us. People swore they would never underestimate Hopkins again.
This past April, he met another pound-for-pound fighter in Joe Calzaghe. Though Hopkins knocked Calzaghe down in the first, Calzaghe out hustled Bernard with an incredible work rate. Calzaghe took a close 12 round decision, as Hopkins looked a little slower than usual. His reflexes weren't quite there. His caginess turned to lethargy. Numerous times throughout the fight, as the bell sounded to end a round, Hopkins walked to the wrong corner. He was disoriented. Hopkins had been able to fight on the top level for so long not solely because of physical gifts. Bernard Hopkins, mentally, could not be beat. He turns his opponents' strengths into their weaknesses. He is the ultimate strategist and ring general--a ring general who couldn't find his way back to the corner. At age 43, it was apparent Bernard Hopkins had finally reached the end of his fairy tale career.
But Hopkins didn't think so. He opted to keep fighting. Bernard figured he may as well challenge Kelly Pavlik, the hardest hitting middleweight since Tommy Hearns. Pavlik is 34-0 with 30 knockouts. He is not simply a power-punching fluke--Angelo Dundee himself has said, "Pavlik belongs in any era." Hopkins didn't care; he has never acknowledged the writing on the wall--he has never acknowledged that there is a wall.
Twelve boxing writers were asked to give their predictions for the outcome of the fight. Twelve writers picked Pavlik. Many of whom expressed concern for the safety of Bernard Hopkins.
The first bell sounded and Hopkins went to work like a surgeon. Never before had Pavlik been hit so clean; never before had he been so confused; never before could he not find the trigger; never before had he lost. Bernard Hopkins gave Pavlik a true boxing lesson. There was no lack of direction, and no lack of energy. Bernard Hopkins truly stopped time and became more than a living legend, this past Saturday night, he became immortal.
In the final round, Hopkins came out fighting with just as much vigor and guile as he did in the first. Old men don't attempt to knock out 26 year old studs, though this is precisely what Hopkins sought to do in the last round of a landslide fight. As the final bell sounded, Hopkins stoically walked over to the edge of the ring apron and stared at every boxing writer sitting ringside who picked against him...again. With his bottom lip quivering, Bernard Hopkins couldn't fend off the raw emotion, the pure drama of his performance, giving the ultimate twist ending to his epic career.
He certainly tricked us. He tricked us all.
From that point, Hopkins was given the credit he deserved and was seldom underestimated. That is, until 2005 when he fought Jermain Taylor. Taylor took two close decisions from the 40 year old. Boxing writers and fans alike gave out a collective plea for the old man to retire. He's done enough: he has knockout victories over hall of fame fighters including Trinidad and De La Hoya, along with 21 consecutive middleweight title defenses over a span of ten years, which is not only sufficient to punch his ticket to the hall of fame, but his resume is enough to put him in the discussion of all time great middleweights.
At 40 years old, it was time to ride into the sunset. The only thing is, Hopkins "didn't hear no bell." The only man on earth who believed he still had days left on the top echelon of the sport was Hopkins himself. Instead of fighting again at middleweight, Bernard not only decided to jump two divisions to light heavyweight, but he thought he would do it against the champ, Antonio Tarver. Very few gave Hopkins a chance. If he couldn't pull the trigger and finish the job against middleweight Jermain Taylor, what did he think he was going to do against Antonio Tarver? Apparently Hopkins knew something no one else did, because it was a 12 round destruction which made Tarver look like an amateur.
He tricked us. People swore they would never underestimate Hopkins again.
This past April, he met another pound-for-pound fighter in Joe Calzaghe. Though Hopkins knocked Calzaghe down in the first, Calzaghe out hustled Bernard with an incredible work rate. Calzaghe took a close 12 round decision, as Hopkins looked a little slower than usual. His reflexes weren't quite there. His caginess turned to lethargy. Numerous times throughout the fight, as the bell sounded to end a round, Hopkins walked to the wrong corner. He was disoriented. Hopkins had been able to fight on the top level for so long not solely because of physical gifts. Bernard Hopkins, mentally, could not be beat. He turns his opponents' strengths into their weaknesses. He is the ultimate strategist and ring general--a ring general who couldn't find his way back to the corner. At age 43, it was apparent Bernard Hopkins had finally reached the end of his fairy tale career.
But Hopkins didn't think so. He opted to keep fighting. Bernard figured he may as well challenge Kelly Pavlik, the hardest hitting middleweight since Tommy Hearns. Pavlik is 34-0 with 30 knockouts. He is not simply a power-punching fluke--Angelo Dundee himself has said, "Pavlik belongs in any era." Hopkins didn't care; he has never acknowledged the writing on the wall--he has never acknowledged that there is a wall.
Twelve boxing writers were asked to give their predictions for the outcome of the fight. Twelve writers picked Pavlik. Many of whom expressed concern for the safety of Bernard Hopkins.
The first bell sounded and Hopkins went to work like a surgeon. Never before had Pavlik been hit so clean; never before had he been so confused; never before could he not find the trigger; never before had he lost. Bernard Hopkins gave Pavlik a true boxing lesson. There was no lack of direction, and no lack of energy. Bernard Hopkins truly stopped time and became more than a living legend, this past Saturday night, he became immortal.
In the final round, Hopkins came out fighting with just as much vigor and guile as he did in the first. Old men don't attempt to knock out 26 year old studs, though this is precisely what Hopkins sought to do in the last round of a landslide fight. As the final bell sounded, Hopkins stoically walked over to the edge of the ring apron and stared at every boxing writer sitting ringside who picked against him...again. With his bottom lip quivering, Bernard Hopkins couldn't fend off the raw emotion, the pure drama of his performance, giving the ultimate twist ending to his epic career.
He certainly tricked us. He tricked us all.
October 10, 2008
The Third Act
Jermain Taylor has a certain magnetic quality about him. Call it "athletic charisma." He exuded this coveted quality in his first act: the lead-up bouts en route to a title shot. In each of these fights, Taylor utilized precision, patience, and discipline. These virtues coupled with his supernatural physical gifts produced a result that gained him a following that prophesied a reign at the top which could rival the current King's. Who in their right mind would not only predict, but expect a young fighter to carry such a torch? That honor is reserved for special heroes who are deemed as such only after their achievements; he had not yet proven anything. But this was the power of Jermain Taylor.
And so began act 2.
Taylor got his title shot and won it in a fashion which had all parties heated. His disciples claimed he did not win in the manner he was supposed to, and his detractors were outraged that he now had the title despite the performance. But the faithful remained confident their prophesy was still true.
Forty eight rounds later, even the most faithful were looking for the smoke and mirrors behind the pulpit. The temple was sparse. Those who remained recited, "Beware. Beware. His physical gifts are there." But to those not influenced by their hopes saw an underachiever--an underachiever who in his reign has not yet followed through on his promises made in act 1. After every battle, there was always an excuse, none of which ever found fault with his physical talent; every explanation cited his discipline, patience, and control. These were things that had his disciples so frustrated: with his powers, Taylor could have been a part of the Justice League, yet he was stuck in traffic during every meeting.
Taylor's eventual demise was befitting, but not painless. Act 2 had been one long trial. Finally, on the night of September 29, 2007 the verdict was in: he was to be tortured. It was a mere human who rose to the occasion. A human in Kelly Pavlik did not see a deity before him; he did not see a superhero, a savior or chosen one. While Taylor's disciples saw his shiny cape, Pavlik saw the human wearing it. Pavlik beat the powers right out of him. Taylor fell to the ground, a mortal. He bled like a mortal. He lost like a mortal.
His disciples were hurt, stunned. But we stood by him; we wished him to try again. The human that he was--he did try again. He improved like a human; he failed like a human. The prophesy had proven to be false; the true Jermain Taylor has been identified. The confrontation and revelation have occurred. What is the resolution? What does act 3 hold?
How will the story end?
And so began act 2.
Taylor got his title shot and won it in a fashion which had all parties heated. His disciples claimed he did not win in the manner he was supposed to, and his detractors were outraged that he now had the title despite the performance. But the faithful remained confident their prophesy was still true.
Forty eight rounds later, even the most faithful were looking for the smoke and mirrors behind the pulpit. The temple was sparse. Those who remained recited, "Beware. Beware. His physical gifts are there." But to those not influenced by their hopes saw an underachiever--an underachiever who in his reign has not yet followed through on his promises made in act 1. After every battle, there was always an excuse, none of which ever found fault with his physical talent; every explanation cited his discipline, patience, and control. These were things that had his disciples so frustrated: with his powers, Taylor could have been a part of the Justice League, yet he was stuck in traffic during every meeting.
Taylor's eventual demise was befitting, but not painless. Act 2 had been one long trial. Finally, on the night of September 29, 2007 the verdict was in: he was to be tortured. It was a mere human who rose to the occasion. A human in Kelly Pavlik did not see a deity before him; he did not see a superhero, a savior or chosen one. While Taylor's disciples saw his shiny cape, Pavlik saw the human wearing it. Pavlik beat the powers right out of him. Taylor fell to the ground, a mortal. He bled like a mortal. He lost like a mortal.
His disciples were hurt, stunned. But we stood by him; we wished him to try again. The human that he was--he did try again. He improved like a human; he failed like a human. The prophesy had proven to be false; the true Jermain Taylor has been identified. The confrontation and revelation have occurred. What is the resolution? What does act 3 hold?
How will the story end?
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